Brad Childress Faces Tough Choice to Start or Sit Brett Favre

Brad Childress, the head coach of the Minnesota Vikings, faces the question of whether to start or sit QB Brett Favre due to his ankle injury.
Brad Childress Faces Tough Choice to Start or Sit Brett Favre
Brad Childress, the Minnesota Vikings head coach, answers questions from the media during a press conference at Winter Park on October 6, 2010 in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. (Adam Bettcher/Getty Images )
10/26/2010
Updated:
10/1/2015
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Brad Childress, the Minnesota Vikings head coach, answers questions from the media during a press conference at Winter Park on October 6, 2010 in Eden Prairie, Minnesota.   (Adam Bettcher/Getty Images )
Brad Childress, the head coach of the Minnesota Vikings, faces the question of whether to start or sit quarterback Brett Favre due to his ankle injury.

An examination after Favre took a hard hit in Sunday night’s game against the Green Bay Packers revealed that Favre has two fractures—a stress fracture in his ankle and an avulsion fracture in his heel.

The 41-year-old quarterback has endured two retirements, a slew of injuries, and a league probe, but none have stopped him from starting for 291 consecutive games. However, his latest injury might be the nail in his career’s coffin.

“He’s got great pain threshold and also great competitive zeal,” Childress said, according to AP.

Several analysts, including former Washington Redskins quarterback Joe Theismann, said that Favre should take a backseat.

Theismann, who suffered a compound fracture more than two decades ago in a game against the New York Giants, said on the NFL Network that Childress needs to “man up” and bench Favre.

“It’s not Brett Favre’s organization. And Brad Childress has to man up and make a decision that’s good for the 52 other guys that dress,” Theismann added.

Favre had a high-impact season in 2009 when he posted his personal best quarterback rating of 107.2. However, 2010 has been a different story as he has thrown more interceptions than touchdowns and has a 68 rating

“I love Brett. We all love Brett,” Theismann said. “But he’s done. It’s over.”

NFL analyst Steve Wyche said that his decision will have to come down to the coaches and trainers. If he does sit out Sunday’s game, backup Tavaris Jackson will start.

Jackson told NFL.com that he would make the most of the opportunity.

“I’ve been working hard throughout this whole process, and I'll continue to work hard,” Jackson said, adding that he has been taking more reps in recent weeks due to Favre’s worsening elbow tendonitis. “Now it’s about continuing to go out there and make plays.”

Compared with previous years, Jackson said that he has “improved a lot in the last year-and-a-half watching Brett,” noting that he has increased mobility over the aging Favre.

“I’m not looking forward to next year right now. Just try to do our best right now. Just try to win a Super Bowl this year,” Jackson added.